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I will post family history and photos so my family can see and copy and share our history.
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Monday, January 24, 2011

Founders of Windsor, Hartford, CT

In 1633 William Holmes of Plymouth had sailed past the Dutch guns at Dutch Point and founded a trading post at Windsor. In 1635 sixty families set out for Windsor, little knowing of the hardships awaiting them. These Windsor settlers had first arrived in Boston in 1630 aboard the ship "Mary and John." After a few years of residence in Dorchester in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, differences between the new immigrants and their hosts led to the former's emigration to Windsor. Starting their journey in late autumn, the settlers ran into cold weather and a scarcity of food. The river froze, thereby preventing a supply ship from reaching them. Part of the group had to make an overland trek back to the Bay Colony. Fortunately, with the help of local tribes, those who remained were able to hold out until warmer weather arrived.

The settlement itself was on the west side of the Connecticut River across from the mouth of the Scantic River. In 1637, out of the fear of possible attack by Pequots, the newcomers built a fence around a part of their settlement north of the Farmington River.

Palisado Green, Palisado Avenue. This green marks the center of the palisaded area of the old settlement. In the center of the green is the "Ship Monument to Original Settlers," a tablet with a rendering of the ship "Mary and John." The monument marks the site of the settlement's first meeting house and lists the names of the original settlers.

1633-1635

Founders of Windsor, Hartford, CT

The following is a list of the Founders of the town of Windsor, amended and approved by the Descendants of the Founders of Ancient Windsor, Inc. as of June 1996.